New York’s elite venture firm Thrive Capital has been dragged into a murky FIFA deal that could end in criminal charges, with founder Josh Kushner now defending the controversial investment.

The plan aimed to create a new corporate entity, FIFA Forward Enterprise, to own commercial aspects of FIFA competitions, but it faced backlash from European teams and was ultimately scrapped. Now, UEFA is pursuing legal action against FIFA and its president, Gianni Infantino, while Thrive has hired the same lawyer who represents Elon Musk in high-profile cases.

Kushner claims the idea was to benefit all 211 member countries, but admits they failed to understand the political complexities. His firm is now represented by Alex Spiro, known for his work with big names like Musk and Jay-Z.

The fallout from this deal highlights the intricate and often corrupt underbelly of international sports governance. As the legal battle rages on, it remains to be seen what impact this scandal will have on the future of global football.